Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-11
4 Badger BOYS Trip in Colorado.

y Worth OF GunnlSon at Crested Butt,
is one of the largest coal mines in the
state. Our course is now up Tom
ichie river, till finally the grade get
ting steep, another engine is hitched
on. and we soon begin the ascent of
Marshall Pass, with a grade of 21S
feet to the mile. The two engines go
putting away through devious wind
ings and we soon look over miles of
eone-shaped SUBMITS. We are reach
ing the cloudy heights, and the tops of
the bald mountains stick up far above
timber line. To the left towers Mount
Ouray, solitary and forbidding, SEEM
ingly the monarch of the mountains.
Still up and on through snow-sheds,
and along the curved mountain side,
past wild precipices, down which we
view the terraced pathway by which
we reach the summit, 1892 feet high
magnificent achievement of engineering
skill, and of vastly more benefit to
mankind than thousand Egyptian
pyramids. From the summit one be-
holds stretching away to the right the
most perfect of all the Sierras The
sunlight falls with white transGgur-
ing radiance upon the snow-crowned
spires of the Sangre de Cristo range
Those cone-shaped pyramids, clear and
sharply defined, near at hand, extend
to the southwark, till snowy crown,
cloud and sky commingle and appear
one in the distant horizon. On every
hand are the mountains of this billowy
granite ocean, which heaves not, nei-
ther is troubled by the tiercest storms
Speeding away on our downward
journey past charming scenes, the
little engine darting around sharp
curves, past bluffs and huge rocks as
if playing hide and seek with the
coaches, we view to our left the mar
row valley, way below, through which
we pass, and at whose mouth is Poncha
Hot Springs, noted for their pure,
taSteless, waters which quenches thirst
alike whether hot or cold. Gods san
itarium, the mountains, where new
views, grand scenery, pure air and
water may be had free of cost, cause
the sick to get well in less time and
with less medicine than elsewhere.
Y GU, husband! who have been kicking
because you have to work so hard six
days in the week while your wife has
been shaving for you longer hours and
seven days in the week-three hundred
and sixty-fve days every year-and
bearing burdens under which you
would have rebelled, just leave the
GROWER at home, and send your wife
out for rest. One might guarantee
you on her return, rich pay in kisses
and love, and wife "as young as she
used to be-"
At Salida we have twenty minutes
to refresh the inner man. Leaving
this pretty village of 5000 inhabitants,
with its live business men, and pleas
ant location, we speed away down the
valley of the Arkansas. The d. & r.
G.. Ry. company are doing some good
work on this as well as other parts of
their road by Strengthening out the
track, thereby making the distance and
the curves much less. About fifty
miles are travelled when we enter the
grand canyon of the Arkansas. which
rivals in some respects the black can
yon of the Gunnison. Many doubted
whether railroad could be constructed
through this gorge, but when surveyed,
powder and pick cut out and formed
the road-bed: and now the noisy train
whizzes past the dizzy heights carrying
travellers and commerce to the cloud
bathed cities of the mountains. The
railroad, we think has increased the
canyons massive grandeur, and has
certainly made its lovely scenes more
accessible to all. The dark hued gran
lite cliffs rise from one to three thou
sand feet, the way grows narrower,
the walls seem to overhang and threaten
to crush all beneath, while the noise
OF the roaring river over its rocky bed,
and the screeching whistle of the en-
CINE lend a wildness to the scene long
to be remembered. Onward and deep
er into the recesses of the rocky cavern
with blue streak of sky above, and
around the s0mbre shades through
which the suns rays never penetrate,
we reach the Royal gorge. Here the
treeless cliffs seem perpendicular, the
river foams in its narrow rock-hewn
channel, with no place for the track
but the long iron bridge which hangs
suspended from the smooth walls by
two huge iron supports, Man seems
dwarfed in the sublime scene Grad
ually we pass from the glories and
beauties of the canyon and speed away
through the winding valley to Canon
City. Here you would have once been
transferred from rail to coach, going
west, to complete your journey to
Leadville. The state penitentiary is
located here. Forty miles further on
we reach Pueblo, and have now made
our round taking in the finest scenery
in the state. For health and pleasure
there is, we believe no grander place
TO travel than in Colorado.
c. L. SCHELLENGER.